A compend of the controversies of religion wherin the trueth is confirmed, and errour convinced, by authoritie of Scripture, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of partie. Most necessary for all, in this backe-slyding age. By W.G. minister of God's word.

CHAP. XIIII. OF PVRGATORIE.

§. 1. That the godlie are purged from all sinnes what-so-ever heere, and that by Christ's blood allanerlie; so that there remaineth no sort of sinnes to bee purged after this lyfe, in anie fyerie Purgatorie.

1. Authoritie of Scripture.

EZek. 18.22. If a sinner turne, I will forget all his iniquities.

Note then, At the verie instāt of our conver∣sion, that wee are purged from all our sinnes what-so-ever: and so, no veniall sinnes are left to bee purged else-where.

Isai. 38.17. Thou bast in lou•…•… delivered my soule from the pit o•…•… corruption; for thou hast cast a•…•… my sinnes behinde thy backe.

Note then, That none are reserved to bee satisfied for by man him-selfe, in anie imagined Purgatorie; but all are casten behind the Lord's backe.

Psal. 51.7.9. Wash mee, and I shall bee vvhiter than the Snow: hide thy face from my sinnes, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Remarke therefore, That where God purgeth, the partie purged is made so cleane, that there remaineth not the least spot behinde, to bee taken away by anie after Purgatorie; and it is not some of our greater sinnes onelie, but hee blot∣teth out all our iniquities what-so-ever, where hee showeth mercie: so that the partie is made whyter than the Snow.

Col. 2.13. And yee being dead in your sinnes, and in the vncircum∣cision of your flesh, he hath quicke∣ned together vvith him, having for∣given all your trespasses.

Note then, That none are excepted.

Heb. 10.14. By one offering hath hee perfected for ever, them that are sanctified: That is, (as Heb. 7.25. is sayde,) Hee hath perfectlie sa∣ved them.

And if this bee, it followeth, that hee hath left no sinne, nor no pu∣nishment

heere-after for sinne, vntaken away: and so no supplement to bee made to his satisfaction, by any suffe∣ringes of ours, in an imagined Pur∣gatorie.

1. Iohn 1.7. And the Blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne, purgeth vs from all sinne.

Note then, How clearlie this errour of Poperie is heere-by convinced, that sayeth, that his blood purgeth vs on∣lie from mortall sinne, and that there is a fire after this life, that purgeth vs from veniall sinnes, and temporall pu∣nishments: where-as the Spirit of God sayeth, that Christ's blood purgeth vs from all sinne: and so giveth flatlie this spirit of errour the lie.

Rom. 8.33. Who shall lay anie thing to the charge of God's Elect? It is God that justifieth, Or who shall condemne? seeing Christ hath died.

Note, If Christ's death then, and the merite there-of, hath abrogated all, then there remaineth not the guilt of anie sinne, nor the condemning to anie satisfactorie punishment, to bee sustai∣ned by anie of God's Elect heere-after, in anie fyerie Purgatorie.

2. Witnessing of Antiquitie.

CHRIST by his death (saith August.) and by that onelie one & true Sa∣crifice offered for vs, hath purged away, abolished, and put out, what-so-ever sort of faults; where-by wee were de∣tained justlie by principalities and powers, as guiltle to vnder-lye punish∣ment. Aug. lib. 4. de trinitat. cap. 13. As also the same sayth Pope Leo. Epist. 81. ad Monachos Palestinos.

3. Confession of Partie.

CHRIST hy his death, (sayth Lom∣bard) and by that one true sacrifice of his, hath abolished what-so-ever faults wee had, where-by wee were holden by Satan, to vnder-goe punishment. Lomb. lib. 3. sent. dist. 19. Lyke-wyse, wee confesse, (sayeth Bellarmine) that Christ hath satisfyed to his Father for vs, and for the whole world perfectlie; yea, most fullie, as manie Scriptures teach vs. Bell. lib. 2. de indulg. c. 7. §. quod enim.

§. 2. That Christ freeth the Godlie from all punishment heere-after, as well as from all guilt heere.

1. Authoritie of Scripture.

ISai. 53.4. Surelie, hee hath borne our griefes, and carried our sor∣rowes.

Note then, That if Christ hath borne our sinnes, no other-wise than by sustai∣ning the whole punishment due for them, & for that ende, to discharge vs of the same, (nam si tulit abstulit,) it follo∣weth then, that no part there-of heere∣after abydeth to bee sustained by vs.

Verse 5. And by his stripes wee are healed.

Note then, That as bodilie healing stan∣deth in this, that the paine is whollie taken away; so our healing by Christ's stripes, importeth this, that the whole punishment of sinne is taken away.

Rom. 8.1. There is no con∣demnation to them that are in Christ.

If then, there bee no condemnation, therefore there is not (as the Papists say,) some condemnation, to wit, to the

suffering of a temporall punishment here∣after, in the fyre of Purgatorie.

Col. 1.19. In him all fulnesse dwelleth.

Note then, That seeing all fulnesse of Salvation is in Christ, and of his fulnesse wee all receiue, (as sayeth Sainct Iohn, 1.16.) Therefore wee receiue full deli∣verie from all punishment of sinne, as well as from all guilt there-of.

Heb. 10.14. By one offering, hee hath perfected for ever, them that are sanctified.

Note therefore, That hee hath perfectlie delivered them from all sort of sinne, and from all sort of punishment: other-wise hee could not bee saide to perfect, or perfectlie saue.

Coloss. 2.13. Having freelie forgiven, all your trespasses.

Matth. 6.12. And forgiue vs our debts, as vvee forgiue our debtors.

Out of both which places then re∣marke, if our sinnes be our debt, as Mat∣thew calleth them, and that they are all freelie forgiven, as Paul witnesseth; then all payment of them, or punishment for them, is lyke-wyse freelie dischar∣ged,

and wee there-of fred. It beeing against sense to affirme other-wise, to wit, that the whole debt should be dis∣charged, but not the whole payment.

Note lyke-wyse, That wee craue for∣giuenesse, as wee forgiue others: and God promiseth such forgiuenesse to vs, as wee giue to others. But hee willeth vs to forgiue others fullie, and freelie, (as Matth. 18.35. is evident,) without keeping the least purpose of the meanest revenge in heart vnto them. Therefore such is his owne forgiuenesse to vs, with∣out keeping the least purpose of tor∣menting vs, in a fyre as hote as Hell, after death, and there-after, that hee hath forgiven vs freelie.

2. Witnessing of Antiquitie.

WHere there is grace, (sayeth Chryso∣stome) there is pardon; and where there is pardon, there is no punishment at all. Chrysost. hom. 8. in Epist. ad Rom. Therefore (sayth Augustine,) Christ by vnder-going the punishment, and not the guilt, hath abrogated both the pu∣nishment, and the guilt. Serm. 37. de verbis Domini.

3. Confession of Partie.

THe sufferings of Christ (sayth Bel∣larmine) are able to expiate all sinne, originall, and actuall; mortall, and ve∣niall:

and all punishment, eternall, and temporall; and all this by it selfe alone. Bell. lib. 2. de indulg. c. 5. §. at non.

§. 3. That no man can satisfie for his sinnes, in anie measure, neither here, nor in Purgatorie.

1. Authoritie of Scripture.

ISai. 63.3. I haue troden the Wine-presse alone, and of all the people, there vvas none vvith mee.

Marke then, If Christ was onlie able to treade the Wine-presse of God's wrath, then hee alone is able to satisfye for sinne, (for both these are one) and all man is excluded.

1. Tim. 2.6. Who gaue Him∣selfe a Ransome for all.

Note then, That a Ransome, or satisfa∣ction for sinne, must bee of an infinite value, such as no suffering of man can bee; and therefore the Sonne of God be∣hoved to giue Him-selfe, who was of in∣finite power and majestie, to bee this Ransome for sinne.

Heb. 1.3. When Hee had by him selfe purged our sinnes, hee sate downe on the right hand of

the Majestie, on high.

Remarke then, That to purge sinne, is the priviledge of Christ, which hee re∣serveth onlie to him-selfe, by him-selfe, and his owne sufferings allanerlie doing that, and not by others, or anie of their sufferings heere, or hence, permitting that to bee done.

Heb. 7.25. Wherefore, hee is able to saue them to the vtter-most, that come vnto God by him.

Note then, If Christ saveth vs to the vtter-most, there remaineth no place for humane satisfaction.

Acts 4.12. Neither is there salvation in anie other, &c.

Note then, That if all our salvation be in Christ, and flow from him onlie, then it is not in anie measure in our selues, and from our selues: so that wee our selues, in respect of our owne satisfa∣ctions, may not bee called our owne re∣deemers, as the Papistes blasphemouslie teach, and the Councell of Trent hath in effect decreed. Bell. l. 1. de indulg. c. 4. §. sexta.

Col. 1.19. In him all fulnesse dwelleth, and by him, even by the blood of his crosse, are all things re∣conciled.

Advert then, That our reconciliation to God, is onelie attributed to the satis∣faction of Christ's blood-shed on the Crosse; and therefore no humane satis∣faction hath place in this worke, seeing reconciliation is the worke of a Media∣tor, and our Mediator behoved to par∣ticipate of both natures, that in him∣selfe, and by him-selfe, hee might re∣concile both.

Revel. 7.14. And hee saide to mee, These are they vvhich came out of great tribulation, and haue vvashed their Robes, and made them vvhite in the blood of the Lambe.

Note therefore, That the verie Mar∣tyres that suffer for Christ, acknow∣ledge onlie the blood of Christ, to bee the perfect satisfaction, and expiation of their sinnes; and therefore are saide to make their Robes whyte, by dipping them no-wise in their owne blood of Martyrdome, as anie way purging, or satisfactorie, but onelie in the blood of the Lambe of God, that taketh away the sinnes of the World.

2. Witnessing of Antiquitie.

BY what paines, and what fastings, can wee wash away our sinnes? saith Ambrose, in Psal. 118. Serm. 20. For the

onlie painfull suffering of the second Adam (sayth Bernard) purgeth them whom the only sinne of the first defyled, and not that anie man's owne satisfactions can availe for him-selfe; for what is our pen∣nance? but that if wee suffer not toge∣ther, wee can-not reigne together. Bern. de verbis lib. Iob. in sex.

3. Confession of Partie.

THe sufferings of Christ is of an in∣finite value, and therefore to joyne the satisfactions of the sufferings of the godlie there-vnto, is al-together super∣fluous, sayth Durandus & Mairones, ci∣ted by Bellarmine, l. 1. de indulg. c. 4. §. tertia. As al-so the verie glosse of the canon Law, Dist. 1. de penitentia verbis, Dic quod, &c. sayeth, that it is neither by contrition of heart, nor confession of mouth, that sinnes are for-given; but onelie by the free grace of God: but the contrition of the heart, is a signe in-deed, that our sinnes are for-given, as exter∣nall pennance is a signe of the contri∣tion of the heart, (say they:) which contrition, even free grace preceedeth.

§. 4. That the Soules of the Godlie, af∣ter Death, goe immediatelie to Glorie, and to no mid place of torment.

1. Authoritie of Scripture.

ISai. 57.1. The Righteous is ta∣ken away from the evill to come: hee shall enter into peace.

Note then, That there is no middle estate, nor place spoken of, but that im∣mediatelie is subjoyned vnto the righ∣teous man's departure out of this life, his present entrie in-to peace; and there∣fore in-to no torment.

Luke 16.25. And Abraham sayde to him, Sonne, remember that thou didst receiue good things in thy lyfe-tyme, and Lazarus lyke-wyse evill; but now hee is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Remarke therefore, That wee haue on∣lie two places mentionate in Scripture, whither soules goe immediatelie after death, to wit, a place of Comfort, which is Heaven, to the godlie; and a place of Torment, which is Hell, to the Wicked.

Luke 23.43. And Iesus saide vnto him, Verelie, I say vnto thee, this day thou shalt bee vvith mee, in Paradise.

Loe then, immediatlie after death the Heavenlie Paradise is promised to the pe∣nitent thiefe: and so is it al-so given to all other penitent sinners.

2. Cor. 5.1. For vve know that if our earthlie house of this ta∣bernacle vvere dissolved, vvee haue a building of God, an house not made vvith hands, eternall in the Heavens.

Note then, That the Apostle showeth, that after this mortall lyfe endeth, wee get instantlie a better in the Heavens: and this Bellarmine him-selfe in those same words, collecteth out of this fore∣saide place, Bell. l. 1. de sanct. c. 3. §. deni{que}: and therefore, thus concludeth: Wherefore (sayeth hee) it is good for vs to die soone in this World, that wee may quicklie begin to liue in Heaven.

Verse 8. Wee are confident, I say, and vvilling, rather to bee ab∣sent from the bodie, and to be present vvith the Lord.

Note then, That there is no mid estate of the godlie soule departing; but as soone as it departeth out of the bodie, and is absent there-fra, instantlie it en∣tereth in Heaven, and is present with the Lord.

Phil. 1.23. Having a desire to bee dissolved, and to bee with Christ, vvhich is farre better.

VVee see then, Vpon the dissolution of the soule from the bodie, followeth in∣stantlie the conjunction there-of with Christ.

Revel. 14.13. Blessed are the dead vvhich die in the Lord, from hence-foorth, now, sayeth the Spi∣rit, that they may rest from their labours, and their vvorkes follow them.

Remarke then, That the godlie instant∣lie after death, become blessed; and im∣mediatelie rest, and are rewarded in glorie.

2. Witnessing of Antiquitie.

AFter the departure of the soule from the bodie, instantlie (sayth Iustinus) the soules of the godlie are carried to Pa∣radise, and the wicked to Hell. Heere∣vnto agreeth also Augustine, medit. 22.

showing, that the soule being loosed from the bodie, instantlie goeth to Hea∣ven. And againe hee sayeth, For the soules of the godlie after their separation from the bodie, are in rest: but the soules of the wicked (sayeth hee) suffer pu∣nishment, vntill the bodies of the one ryse to eternall lyfe, and of the other vn∣to eternall death, which is called the se∣cond. And that hee knew no third place, hee testifyeth in his fyft Booke of the Hypognostickes, about the midst: See Au∣gustine, l. 13. de civit. Dei. c. 8.

3. Confession of Partie.

THe Apostle's reason, (sayth Bellar∣mine) 2. Cor. 5.1. is excellent, to wit, this, If this mortall lyfe perish, wee haue instantlie an-other, farre better, in the Heavens, Bell. lib. 1. de sanctis, c. 3. §. deni{que}.